COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) testified before the House Federalism & Interstate Relations Committee on House Concurrent Resolution 26, a measure she is sponsoring that names Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.

COLUMBUS—State Representatives Jeffery Rezabek (R-Clayton) and Candice Keller (R-Middletown) provided sponsor testimony in the House Ways and Means Committee for House Bill 575, legislation they jointly sponsored. House Bill 575 seeks to provide financial relief for volunteer firefighters and certain volunteer emergency personnel, and to incentivize Ohioans to continue to offer volunteer services to their communities.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) announced passage of legislation to establish certain qualifications and training requirements for school resource officers (SROs). House Bill 318 also permits SROs to provide a specified range of services to the schools they serve.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) today applauded the passage of House Resolution 299 by the Ohio House of Representatives. The resolution was sponsored by Reps. Ron Young (R-Leroy Township) and Timothy Ginter (R-Salem) and recognizes the statewide efforts of faith-based communities for victims of the drug crisis throughout Ohio. These communities are comprised of compassionate individuals who have supported and assisted countless fellow Ohioans suffering from abuse of opioids and other drugs.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) today announced the passage of the Victims Privacy and Protection Act by the Ohio House of Representatives, legislation sponsored by Rep. Wes Retherford (R-Hamilton). House Bill 451 excludes certain depictions of victims from being released in public records requests, removing the possibility of re-victimization in situations that are often already traumatizing.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) today announced that she will be attending a meeting facilitated by William Kirkland, Head of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House, to discuss the issue of sanctuary cities.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) announced that the Ohio House recently passed legislation that would help fund projects that provide broadband to underserved regions of the state.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) announced that the Ohio House passed legislation clarifying when sales tax can be collected within the oil and gas industry. House Bill 430 clarifies and narrows the scope of already existing exemptions.

State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) today applauded the approval of a project by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) that is expected to create 85 new full-time jobs at Deceuninck North America LLC.

State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) today announced that the Ohio House has passed House Bill 286, legislation sponsored by Rep. Sarah LaTourette (R-Chesterland) related to palliative care.

There has not been a day that goes by here at the Statehouse where the words “heroin” or “opioids” have not been spoken in my office. Ohio’s overdose deaths hit 4,050 last year. Being from southwest Ohio, the amount of overdoses in our communities definitely reaches the level of “epidemic.” Just a few months ago, Cincinnati was in the national headlines as the Washington Post had an article titled: “’This is unprecedented’: 174 heroin overdoses in 6 days in Cincinnati.”

State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) announced passage of House Bill 116, sponsored by State Representative Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township), which eliminates the sales and use tax on prescription lenses, frames, contacts or other devices that aid an individual’s vision.

State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) announced the passage of the Disaster Relief Act, legislation sponsored by Rep. Scott Ryan (R-Granville) that will exempt out-of-state businesses and employees from certain taxes when they come to Ohio for disaster-related work.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) today announced that a sales tax holiday is set to be held the first weekend of August. The intent of the sales tax holiday, as established by legislation approved earlier this year, is to provide parents with some tax relief during back-to-school shopping in preparation for the new school year and to stimulate economic activity for Ohio’s retailers.

I had trouble sleeping the other night and began reading about former Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Oddly enough, he referred to how important it was in his life for his father to spend time with him, while they worked under the hood of a car doing auto repairs. It made me think about the importance of a responsible adult in the life of a child. Steve was adopted, and his adoptive father took time to do this simple task with him, something he referred to after he had gained great success in his life. In other words, it was very important to him. And it had nothing to do with computers or wealth or a university education.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) announced that the State Controlling Board this week approved the release of funding for a variety of renovation projects at Miami University in Oxford.

One of the reasons graduation season is one of the greatest is because every graduation is truly a miracle. It is a miracle of dedication, perseverance, and hard work. To those graduating from the following high schools: Madison Senior, New Miami, Edgewood, Talawanda, Monroe Senior, Middletown, Ross, Hamilton, Summit Academy, Middletown Christian, Ohio Christian Academy, Marshall, or to those graduating from homeschooling, you have chosen not to be in the 19 percent of Ohioans who won’t graduate high school this year, according to the latest statistics from the Department of Education. There may be various circumstances that prohibited those who haven’t graduated, such as poverty, family traumas, or even hunger. Regardless of difficult circumstances, you overcame any obstacles and became part of the 81 percent.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) yesterday applauded the passage of Senate Bill 9 by the Ohio House of Representatives, which would create a sales tax holiday during the first weekend of August 2017.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) today announced passage of House Bill 115, which would establish a voluntary program to help facilitate effective communication between law enforcement and individuals with communication disabilities.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) today announced passage of House Bill 101, the Epinephrine Accessibility Act, which seeks to make epinephrine auto-injectors more affordable and accessible for Ohioans who rely on the medication to treat life-threatening allergic reactions.

COLUMBUS—Today, State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) presented a resolution commending the Butler County Small Business Development Center on being named the National SBDC of the Year. The award was presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration at its 2017 National Small Business Week ceremony.

I recently had the opportunity to tour Butler Tech, a career technical school within the 53rd Ohio House District that launched a new Workforce Services department. Workforce development has been an important focal point of the state over the past few years, as we’ve created programs and encouraged policies that facilitate a better connection between the labor force and education. As we’ve seen, many times, students will pursue a traditional four-year program at a college and university only to struggle to find employment afterwards. Departments like Workforce Services at Butler Tech help many looking for employment gain skills and qualifications through alternative avenues.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) today announced that the Ohio Legislative Service Commission is accepting applications for its 13-month Legislative and Telecommunications Fellowship Program. The commission will hire 24 fellows to work with members of the Ohio General Assembly during 2018.

As a newly elected state representative, I learn more every day about bills that the legislature has passed in previous general assemblies that benefit Ohioans and offer solutions for those who are in need. I was recently made aware of a wonderful program for disabled individuals called the STABLE account program. This program is designed to help individuals with disabilities live a more independent and financially secure lifestyle.

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House Clifford A. Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) has announced that State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) has been appointed to serve on three Ohio House committees.

In January, it’s impossible not to reflect on the prior year. 2016 had so many great occurrences but it was a tough year for many families. I have learned that it’s the little things that matter in the end.

State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) this week was sworn in as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 132nd General Assembly. She represents the 53rd Ohio House District, which is made up of Butler County. This will be her first full term as state representative.

Speaker of the Ohio House Clifford A. Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) today announced that Candice Keller (R-Middletown) has been sworn in as state representative of the 53rd House District. Keller fills the seat vacated by former Representative Tim Derickson this summer.